Consumerism Index in the Context of Sustainable Development: Pattern of Household Food Consumption

This study focuses on the phenomenon of consumerism as a component of sustainable development. Sustainable development assumes the balance of production and consumption in the economy. The notion of consumption is framed to be a balanced and sustainable approach by considering the economic, social, and cultural aspects of food consumption. This multidimension aspect of food consumption incorporates other forms of non-economic principles in lubricating and prolonging its economic sustainability. This research focuses on the city of Bandung, a major Indonesian urban area that contributes to the national economy, and also one that maintains traditional norms that constitutes the multidimensional dynamic of food consumption. The testing and measurements of the consumerism index are done through a random sampling survey of 150 respondents distributed in two districts, with a confidence interval of 92.7%. This research shows that advertisement and distribution of global food products, together with the participation of friends and families in consuming food, tend to be more influential in causing stronger behaviour of food consumption. This confirms the novelty of this research that the multidimensionality of consumption remains relevant, thus a consumerism index based on the variety of aspects are recommended for future development in the study of sustainability and consumption.